Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1887-03-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular correspondent.l
WAsiIINGroN, Feb. Goth. 1888.

This is an era OF resignation in oili
cial life in Washington. The secretary
of the treasury is about to resign, th,
L. :. treasurer will follow, the vice
president pro tenn. OF the senate re
signed this week, the commissioner oi
patents will resign during the coming
month. Mr.. Matthews, the coloretl
commissioner of deeds of the District
OF Columbia must resign, and with re-
gard to some of these. at least. the
country is resigned 20 otheirre-isnatio
Last but not least, the Forty Ninth
Congress will resign ut noon on tn,
9TH of March. Much work remains to
be done, several important appropria-
tion bills have not only not beer
passed. but are only half Giaested in
committee; but during the next five
days OF its life Congress will do in Il
hurried and imperfect manner the
work which should have been done
deliberately and carefully in the earlier
days OF the session. In addition to
the appropriation bills, there are a
number OF important public and pri-
vate measures which will be hurried
through, ii possible. But with the vast
number of bills occupying prominen,
places upon the calendar, there i.
hardly time enough to pass the appro-
priation bills. and it is probable that
Congress will hold several night ses-
Sions. and also n Sunday session.
In the Republican senatorial caucus,
held Thursday, it was stated with
some positiveness that a special ses-
sion OF the Senate would he called
Immediately after the adjournment
of Congress. 1t was said that the
President had intimatcl to leading
Republican Senator's that he would
call II special session to act upon some
treaties and confirm some Important
There is much speculation rs to
what the President will do with the
bill which passed the House somed days
since and the Senate Thursday, Great
ine Il new Cabinet officer, the Depart
ment~ OF Agriculture. The bill has
been pending for some years, and once
passed both houses. but was vetoed
by President Arthur. Mr.. Hatch.
Chairman OF the Agricultural Com
mittee. and other fsienos of the meas
llre who have talked with the Presi-
ien' on the subject, say that he will
sign the bill.
In ease he does, il see.ns to be well
established that Mr.. Hatch will desire
to go into the Cabinet. and It is not
that the President will
recognize him. Commissioner of .Ag,i-
ruture Coleman will also expect to
he promoted. The ngrirllturist.s have
very generally petitioned for the
passage OF the bill, and upon this it is
argued that the President cannot.
from II political poin; of view, afford
to disapproye the bill.
The weather service of the United
States Signal service Bureau i To he
transferred after July |, 1887. TO The
new Department of Agriculture.
u. II 4
tnry of the Treasury is as unsettled
a> ever. According to the knowing
ones. Minister Pendlc'on dex-Mayor
Grace have about equal chance, of
being selected. while others are men
TONED with nearly equal frequency.
1t II positively asserted that the office
has been Offered to Representative
scott and to Speaker Carlisle ana
that both declined it, the latter only
last sunday. Those who think that
an outsider will be nominated hold
that Mr.. Fairciild stands no chance.
because. ii the President had any ide;,
of taking him into the cabinet he
would probably have been nominated
before this. and at any rate the pipsi-
ilent would not have found il nece,.-
sary to consider any other name4 in
with the matter. Mr..
Fairrhild' : friends. on the oi her hand
a re firm in the belief that he will hc
Mr.. ManningS successor. and think
that the President has not done as
much considering and consulting in
he matter rs has been represen ell
md that he will nominate his man
before Congress adjourns.
Senator ingalls,, of Kansas. Wa on
elected President pro tenn
IF the senate. in place oi Mr. sherman.
'e-icne'i. Ills election will result ia
his salary from 5000 to
-. 1000 II year. in allowing him an
additional private secretary. and in
lfforling him II great many little per-
onal convenience, OF that kind. He
IN and will ret ain his chairmanship
II the District Committee. and hi
ommittee membership.